Car journal rebrasser



Nov. 15, 1960 R. F. NELSON CAR JOURNAL REBRASSER Filed May 11, 1955 3 Sheets-She et 1 INVENTOR. Rival/v5 N51. 504

R. F. NELSON CAR JOURNAL REBRASSER Nov. 15, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1955 VIII 1' WW w N L M W WM 9 A a m W. l w kW V NOV. 15, 1960 NELSON 2,960,307

CAR JOURNAL REBRASSER Filed May 11, 1955 a 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG -6 INVEN TOR. fizz 5: E M250 BY 5 /d%/ CAR JOURNAL REBRASSER Reuben F. Nelson, 713 Vine St., Roseville, Calif.

Filed May 11, 1955, Ser. No. 507,664

3 Claims. (Cl. 254-2) My invention relates to tools utilized generally for lifting heavy loads and especially to a device for lifting the major portion of the Weight of a refrigerator car or other railway car from the axle of the car in order that part of the bearing mechanism for the axle can be removed, repaired and replaced.

Many railway cars are provided with axles ending in journal bearings including anti-friction brasses or arcuate bearing shells interposed between the axle and the journal box which is part of the car mechanism. Lubrication of the journal is by introduction of a lubricant between the axle and the brass or bearing shell. In the course of protracted operation, the relatively soft material of the bearing shell changes its shape and sometimes acquires an edge configuration which precludes the ready entrance of the lubricant thereby resulting in bearing failure. It is customary at present to remedy this defect by a laborious operation of jacking up the car mechanism to relieve the load transmitted through the bearing shell to the axle then withdrawing the bearing shell and dressing or treating it in an appropriate fashion, if it can be salvaged. It is then returned to its former position after which the weight of the car is again imposed through the shell onto the axle. In the event the bearing shell is not reuseable, it is replaced.

It is an object of my invention to provide a mechanism, termed herein a rebrasser, which can be utilized to relieve the weight of a car from a bearing thereof and to provide a dressing or refinishing structure so that a bearing shell can be removed, improved and restored without the expenditure of a great deal of manpower and in a relatively short time.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rebrasser readily movable throughout a railway yard so that lines of cars needing attention can be treated in series with only a short time interval expended on each.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rebrasser controlled from substantially a single station so that it can quickly be placed in appropriate position and can be actuated and then withdrawn with great expedition and ease.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rebrasser considerably safer to use than the relatively crude tools presently employed for the purpose.

Another object of my invention is to provide a power actuated device for doing the hardest part of the rebrassing labor.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the form of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rebrasser constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the jack por- States atent tion thereof in position to relieve the load from an axle and to permit the withdrawal of the brass.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but is in part a cross section on a vertical longitudinal plane with some portions broken away to reduce the size of the figlre and to display the interior construction.

Figure 3 is a detailed cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a portion of the rebrasser with the dressing tool shown in elevation, the plane of which is indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan showing parts in cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan showing parts in cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 66 of Figure 2.

While the rebrasser of my invention can readily be embodied in numerous different forms depending particularly upon the precise manner of its use and the exact or special environment of its use, it has successfully been incorporated in the form shown herein for use primarily in rebrassing refrigerator cars and other types of freight cars.

In this form of the device, there is provided a wheeled vehicle having a frame 6 supported in part upon a pair of pneumatically tired forward wheels 7. These are mounted on an appropriate axle 8 suitably fastened to the vehicle frame and provided with a differential mechanism to which a driving chain 9 is connected. At the other end, the driving chain is engaged by a hydraulic driving motor 11 mounted on the main frame 6 of the vehicle.

The vehicle is likewise supported by a rear steering wheel 13 having a pneumatic tire and mounted in a swing frame 14. At one end the swing frame is connected by a pivot 16 to a steering frame 17 and at the other end is supported on a spring 18 interposed between the swing frame and the steering frame.

The steering frame 17 is appropriately journaled for rotation about a vertical axis in the frame 6 and a suitably connected steering column 19 and steering wheel 21 are provided. The wheel 21 is preferably disposed at or adjacent an operators station 22 formed by an extension of the frame 6 with a rear guard wall 23 upstanding therefrom.

The frame 6 supports a source of motive power such as an air-cooled, internal combustion engine 26 connected by a shaft 27 to a hydraulic pump 28. Included in the pump circuit is a reservoir 29 for supplying hydraulic fluid to the pump and other hydraulic mechanism. Since the connections are virtually standard, they are not illustrated in detail. Means are provided for conducting hydraulic fluid from the tank 29 to the pump 28 as it is driven by the engine 26 with the discharge of the pump 28 being led through appropriate control valves 31 at the control station. These are provided with operating handles 32 so that the hydraulic fluid is fed to the hydraulic motor 11 under operator control. By varying the valves 31, the speed of advance of the vehicle can be regulated and by reversing the valves 31, the hydraulic motor 11 and the vehicle direction can be reversed. The speed of the vehicle engine 26 and the vehicle braking are preferably controlled by appropriate pedals 36 and 37 likewise in convenient locations at the operator station 22.

In particular accord with the invention, the wheeled vehicle, self-propelled as described, is provided with special attachments. At its forward end, the frame 6 serves as a support for a vertical pivot shaft 41 suitably mounted in a journal 42 at its upper end and in a journal 43 at its lower end. The shaft is rotated by means of a hydraulic cylinder 44 at one end pivotally secured to a bracket 46 on the frame 6 and at the other end pivotally connected to an arm 47 on the shaft 41. The cylinder 44 is actuated in either one of two opposite directions under hydraulic power by appropriate connections (not shown) which lead to a valve and handle controller similar to the valve 31 andhandle 32 and in-line therewith atthe operator station 221 The shaft 41 near its lower end has a thrust bearing 48 and at itslower end is provided with a turntable 4-9 rubbing against aplate 51 on the frame 6. The-table-49 has forks 52 to straddle atongue 53 projecting from one end ofa-boom 54. The-tongue isconnected to. the forks by a pivot pin 56- disposed" on a horizontal axis so that-the boom-54 can lift and lower about the axis of the pin 56 and canswing from side to side with rotation of the shaft 41'.

In order to maintain the lifting and lowering or vertical travel of the boom as is desired, the tongue 53 is provided with an extension 57 normally urged upwardly by a spring 58". interposed between the extension and the turntable 49; Adapted to bear on the extension 57 is a spherical roller 61 at the lower end of the piston rod 62 of a hydraulic cylinder 63 mounted on the frame 6. The cylinder 63 has appropriate connections (not shown) to a controller mounted adjacent the controller 32 at the operators station 22. When this latter controller is actu ated, the rod 62 of the cylinder 63 is actuated to depress the extension57 against the tension of the spring 58 and hus lift the boom 54.

When the control is reversed, the hydraulically expanded cylinder 63 is retracted under the combined weight of the boom 54 and of the retracting spring 58.

In this fashion, when the hydraulically actuated cylinder 44 is operated the boom 54 is swung from side to side while when the hydraulically actuated cylinder 63 is actuated, the boom is. raised and lowered. By a combination of actuations, the boom can be oriented as desired within its limits of travel.

At the opposite or forward end of the boom, there are fork arms 64 and 66 (Figure 3) which together support' trunnions 67 and 68 projecting into a gimbal ring 69. This ring in turn receives pins 71 and 72 fast on the walls of a cylinder 73' forming part of a hydraulically actuated or hydraulically expansible jack 74; This jack is provided with a broad stable base 76 and with a plurality of telescoping jack plungers 77 therein. By this construction, the jack when. retracted or collapsed is of very low height and can. readily fit between a railway tie 78 and the journal housing 79 of a railway car 81.

In order appropriately to actuate the jack, it is connected by a flexible hose 82 to a pipe 83 clipped to the boom 54. Another flexible hose 84 extends to, an appropriate controller (not shown) similar to the controller 32 and disposed-at the operators station 22, being itself supplied from the hydraulic power source 28 as are the hydraulically expansible. chambers 44' and 63.

In the operation of' the device, the attendant riding at the operators station 22 energizes the hydraulic motor 11 and proceeds to a location in which the boom 54v can be appropriately positioned as to angle and swing between a tie 78 and the journal. housing 79 of a car 81'. The orientation of the boom isaccorded by suitable actuation of. the chamber 44 andthe chamber 63. When the jack 74 is in appropriate location (and it tends to. remain with its axis vertical despite the orientation of the boom 54 due to the high mounting of the universal connection) hydraulic fiuid is supplied to the jack which is thus extended to lift the journalhousing 79 and relieve the bearing shell of weight. At that point the jack. is. stopped in an upper. position and the journal, shell or brass, is removed.

Mounted on the framefi' ata convenient location on the vehicle in a dressing or journal shell-refinishing tool, generally designated 86. The frame 6 includes a plate 87 at one end serving as a support for a hydraulically expansible chamber 88, preferably secured in place by a pivot pin 89. The chamber 88 is connected by suitable conduits 91 and 92 to :the hydraulic motor 28 with a suitable controller 93 therefor: This controller is similar to the controller 32. The other end of the hydraulically expansible mechanism 88, such as its piston rod, is connected to a shaper head 94 of the customary type having a hand wheel 96 for vertically positioning a cutting tool 97 as desired. The shaper head-94 is steadied and guided in a rectilinear path by a pair of side rods 98 and 99 secured in stationary brackets 101 and 102 upstanding from the plate 87. Thus, when the hydraulic cylinder 88 is actuated, the shaper head 94 is reciprocated and the tool 97 is driven. forward. When the control 93 is reversed, :the piston withinv the cylinder 88 is propelled in the opposite direction and the shaper cutting tool 97 is withdrawn.

The bearing shell, represented by the outline 103 in Figure 4, is preferably mounted in the path of the shaper tool 97 by being clamped in a specially made vise 104 likewise mounted on the plate 87 and provided with a hand wheel 106 for appropriate clamping of thebearing shell in position between a pair of relatively movable jaws 107 and 108.

After the car 81 has been jacked up, as described, and the bearing shell 103 removed from the journal housing, the shell or brass is appropriately positioned in the vise 104 and the hand wheel 106 is tightened to clamp the shell in position. The cylinder 88 is then actuated and the tool 97 makes a single cut 'on the bearing shell, thus re-finishing one side of it. The shell 103 is then released, after the tool 97 has been retracted, is turned around, is re-clamped in the vise 104 and the cylinder 88 is again actuated for a forward stroke to re-finish the other side of the bearing shell. Following that, the shell is removed from the vise, is replaced in the journal housing 79, and the hydraulic control of the jack 74- is reversed to permit the jack tolower and restore the car to its running condition. Then the vehicle is withdrawnand moved to the next location for repetition of the operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A car journal rebrasser, comprising a vehicle, a boom, means for mounting said boom on said vehicle for movement about a horizontal axis and about a vertical axis relative to said vehicle, a hydraulically extensible jack having a ground-engaging base, means for mountingsaid jack onsaid boom with said base depending below saidboom and for universal movement relative, to said boom, a hydraulic power supply on said vehicle, and means including flexible hoses for connecting said power supply to said jack forextending. said jack upwardly above, said boom.

2. A car journal rebrasser comprising a vehicle, a boom, means. for pivotally mounting the inboard end of said boom on said vehicle for vertical and horizontal swinging movement relative to said vehicle, hydraulic means for sornoving said boom relative to said vehicle, a hydraulically actuated. jack' having a ground-engaging base, means for mounting said jack on the outboard end of said boom with saidbase depending below said booom and for universal movement relative to said boom, a hydraulic power supply on said vehicle, means for flexibly connecting. said: power supply to said hydraulic moving means and to. said hydraulic jack, an operators station on said vehicle, and controls at said operators station forcontrolling said hydraulic moving means and said hydraulic jack.

3. A car journal rebrasser comprising a vehicle, a boom, a jack having a ground-engaging base,,means for mounting said jaclg for universal movement n, one end of said boom, said mounting means supporting said jack on said boom with the center of gravity of said jack below said mounting means and with the base of said jack below said boom, means for movably mounting the other end of said boom on said vehicle for vertical movement to position said jack relative to said vehicle, said jack being acted upon by gravity to efiect movement thereof relative to said boom as said boom moves vertically relative to said vehicle, and means adjacent said other end of said boom for actuating said jack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pearne Oct. 23, Thress Nov. 6, Fitzgerald Apr. 11, Merck Mar. 23, Branick Dec. 14, Vahs Mar. 15, 

